Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel
{{short description|Series of eleven patrol vessels for the Indian Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2023}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| sclass = 2 }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = NGOPV Design.png | Ship caption = NGPOV Design }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = *Goa Shipyard (GSL) | Operators = {{navy|India}} | Class before = *{{sclass|Saryu|patrol vessel|4}}
| Class after = | Subclasses = | Built range = 2024 – present | In commission range = | Total ships building = 8 | Total ships planned = 11 | Total ships completed = | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships scrapped = | Cost = *{{INRConvert|9781|c|lk=on|year=2023}}
| Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Offshore patrol vessel | Ship displacement = {{convert|2500 |
| 2900|t|LT|lk=on|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/sites/default/files/tender_document/RFI%20-%20NGOPVs-DPP%2016%20%20final.pdf|title=REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SIX NEXTGENERATION OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS (NGOPVs) FOR INDIAN NAVY|work=Indian Navy|date=2017-12-29}}
| Ship length = {{convert|105-110|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = | Ship draft = | Ship draught = {{convert|4 |
| 5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = 2 × diesel engine | Ship speed = {{convert|25|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = *{{convert|8500|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}} with 25% reserve fuel | Ship endurance = 60 days (minimum) | Ship complement = 20 officers including 4 women officers and 130 sailors | Ship sensors = *Navigation radar
| Ship armament = *1 × 76 mm/62 Oto Melara gun
| Ship aircraft = 1 × {{convert|15|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} helicopter with facility for UAVs | Ship aircraft facilities = *Helipad with enclosed hangar (1 × multi-role helicopter or UAVs)
| Ship notes = }} |
The Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) are a series of eleven offshore patrol vessel planned to be built by Goa Shipyard (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.{{cite web|date=17 December 2020|title=Defence Ministry clears 11 advance warships for Navy, 6 surveillance planes for IAF|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/defence-ministry-clears-11-advance-warships-for-navy-6-surveillance-planes-for-iaf|publisher=The Free Press Journal}} The deal was signed on 30 March 2023 with the delivery of the ships is scheduled to commence from September 2026. The primary role of the vessels to maintain Indian Navy's combat capability and meet various operational requirements such as Anti piracy, Counter-Infiltration, Anti poaching, Anti trafficking, Non combatant evacuation operations, Search and Rescue (SAR), Protection of Offshore Assets and Mine warfare.{{cite web|date=March 30, 2023|work=Press Information Bureau|title=MoD signs Rs 19,600 crore contracts for 11 Next Gen Offshore Patrol Vessels, 6 Next Gen Missile Vessels for the Indian Navy|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1912286}}
History
The Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel project is a follow on of {{sclass|Shachi|offshore patrol vessel|4}} which was eventually cancelled due to an inordinate delay of more than 10 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/indian-navy-cancels-reliance-naval-engineering-ltd-s-rs-2-500-contract-11602255171564.html|title=Ministry of Defence cancels Reliance Naval & Engineering Ltd's ₹2,500 contract|publisher=Live Mint|date=9 October 2020|access-date=11 October 2020}} Initially, the Indian Navy signed a contract for five offshore patrol vessel to be built by the erstwhile Pipavav Shipyard now (Reliance Defence and Engineering). Numerous delays in the project, initially due to change of design partner and subsequently due to financial issues led to the cancellation of the project in October 2020.{{cite news|last1=Nair|first1=Avinash|title=Pipavav bags Rs 2,600-cr Navy deal|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/shipping-/-transport/pipavav-bags-rs-2600-cr-navy-deal/articleshow/6018029.cms|work=The Economic Times|publisher=The Times Group|date=7 June 2010}}{{cite report|title=Action Taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations contained in the Twentieth Report (16th Lok Sabha) on 'Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence for the year 2016–17 on Army, Navy and Air Force (Demand No. 22)|work=Thirty-fifth report of the Standing Committee on Defence (2017–18)|url=http://164.100.47.193/lsscommittee/Defence/16_Defence_35.pdf|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|location=New Delhi|page=58|date=December 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Gurung |first1=Shaurya Karanbir |title=Punitive action against Reliance firm, Navy encashes bank guarantee in vessel deal |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/punitive-action-against-reliance-firm-navy-encashes-bank-guarantee-in-vessel-deal/articleshow/66923849.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=4 December 2018}}
Indian Navy re-released a new RFI in 2017 for six ships which was later cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in 2018 for a price of {{INRConvert|4941|c|lk=on|year=2018}}.{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1542851|title=DAC Approves Procurement of Six NGOPVs|work=Press Information Bureau|date=2018-08-13}} Later on, the number of ships to be built was increased to eleven to compensate for the time lost due to the cancelled {{sclass|Shachi|offshore patrol vessel|4}} project.{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1681456|title= Big boost to Make in India: Defence Acquisition Council headed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh approves proposals to procure equipment worth Rs 27,000 cr from domestic industry|work=Press Information Bureau|date=2020-12-17}}{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/defence-min-clears-11-advance-warships-for-navy-6-surveillance-planes-for-iaf-11608219016472.html|title=Defence Min clears 11 advance warships for Navy, 6 surveillance planes for IAF|work=Live Mint|date=2020-12-17}}
The project was subjected to competitive bidding and shipyards across the country participated. Amongst the public sector participants were Cochin Shipyard, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Goa Shipyard, Hindustan Shipyard and Mazagon Dock while Larsen & Toubro was the sole private bidder. Goa Shipyard was declared the lowest bidder (L1) while Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers was the second lowest L2.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goa-shipyard-ltd-likely-to-ink-2-deals-with-indian-navy/articleshow/90362146.cms|title=Goa Shipyard Ltd likely to ink 2 deals with Indian Navy|work=The Times of India|date=2022-03-22}} Contract was subsequently signed with both the shipyards.
Construction
The deal for the construction of 11 ships was signed on 30 March 2023 by Ministry of Defence with Goa Shipyard (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for a total value of {{INRConvert|9781|c|lk=on|year=2023}}. Of the 11 ships, seven will be designed, developed and manufactured by GSL and four by GRSE. The delivery of the ships is scheduled to commence from September 2026. The order value share for the Goa Shipyard (GSL) is {{INRConvert|6200|c|lk=on|year=2023}} while that of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) is {{INRConvert|3500|c|lk=on|year=2023}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mod-signs-contracts-worth-22986-crore-for-ships-and-equipment/article66679912.ece|title=Defence Ministry signs contracts worth ₹32,086 crore for ships, BrahMos and Akash missiles, radars|work=The Hindu|date=2023-03-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/april/13014-india-to-purchase-11-next-gen-opv-6-next-gen-missile-vessels.html|title= India to purchase 11 Next Gen OPV & 6 Next Gen missile vessels |work=Navy Recognition|date=2023-03-30}}
The first ship is expected to be delivered within 44 months from the date of signing the contract with the final delivery to be complete within seven and half years.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gsl-inks-rs-6-2k-cr-deal-with-defence-ministry/articleshow/99124973.cms|title=Goa Shipyard Ltd inks Rs 6,200 crore deal with defence ministry|work=The Times of India|date=2023-03-31}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/grse-signs-contract-for-04-ngopvs/business-economy/news/2944021.html|title=GRSE Signs Contract for 04 NGOPVs|work=United News of India|date=2023-03-31}}{{cite news|url=https://raksha-anirveda.com/grse-signs-contract-for-4-ngopvs-order-book-surges-by-3500-crore/|title=GRSE Signs Contract for 4 NGOPVs, Order Book Surges by 3500 Crore|work=Raksha Anirveda|date=2023-03-31}}
On the same date, MoD also ordered 13 units of BEL Lynx-U2 Fire Control Radar worth {{INRConvert|1700|c|lk=on|year=2023}} for the NGOPV programme.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=MoD signs contract with BEL for 13 Lynx-U2 fire control systems for Navy |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mod-signs-contract-with-bel-for-13-lynx-u2-fire-control-systems-for-navy-8528832/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=Aatmanirbhar Bharat: MoD signs contract with BEL for 13 Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems for Indian Navy worth Rs 1,700 crore |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1912193 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Press Information Bureau}}
On 24 February and 27 March 2024, GRSE and GSL began the construction of the first two of their respective NGOPVs with the steel cutting ceremony.{{cite tweet|number=1761293271761146255|user=OfficialGRSE|title=The Plate Cutting Ceremony of the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) - Yards 3039 & 3040, at #GRSE RBD Unit on 24 Feb 24|date=2024-02-24}}{{cite twitter|number=1773016867587731595|user=goashipyardltd|title=GSL commenced physical construction of 3rd & 4th Vessels yard 1280 & 1283 by Plate Cutting ceremony|date=2024-03-27}}
On 8 February 2025, MoD placed an order for 28 BEL EON-51 FCS, worth {{INRConvert|642|c|lk=|year=2025}}, to complement AK-630s onboard 11 NGOPVs and 3 Cadet Training Ships.{{Cite web |date=8 February 2025 |title=Aatmanirbhar Bharat: MoD inks Rs 642 crore contract with BEL for 28 EON-51 systems for Indian Navy |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2101000 |access-date=11 February 2025 |website=Press Information Bureau}}
Keel for the second and third OPV (Y1281 and Y1822) from Goa Shipyard's lot was laid at Yeoman Shipyard (YMSPL), Ratnagiri on 23 March 2025. The main hull blocks of the vessels would be fabricated at YMSPL's Ratnagiri facility as part of GSL’s build strategy.{{cite press release |title=KEEL LAYING OF SECOND AND THIRD NEXT GENERATION OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS (YARD 1281 AND 1282) |date=2025-03-23 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114196 |work=}}
Design
The ships will have a displacement of {{convert|2500|-|2900|t|LT|lk=on|0}} and a length of {{Convert|105|-|110|m|ftin}} depending upon the design opted by either of the shipyard. They will have a cruising speed of {{Convert|14|knot|lk=in}} with a maximum speed greater than {{Convert|25|knot}} and an operating range of {{Convert|8500|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{Convert|14|-|15|knot}}. The ships will be equipped with state of the art facility and a hangar which can accommodate one HAL Dhruv. The Helipad can accommodate a helicopter of {{convert|15|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} with facility to operate UAVs.
These ship will be able to perform mine warfare roles with modular payload, presumably by the usage of UUVs and autonomous mine laying vehicles. The ship would be equipped with light weapons like 76mm main cannon along with CIWS systems and counter-measure system like Kavach decoy launchers and Maareech torpedo-countermeasure systems.
The CIWS will be partnered with EON-51 FCS, an electro optical fire-control system capable of search, detection and classification of targets by employing devices like Electro Optical and Thermal Imagers.
The ship will have the ability to store Shyena torpedoes for helicopter.
Ships of the class
See also
- Future of the Indian Navy
- {{sclass|MDL|offshore patrol vessel|4}}